Macedonia's conservatives win 2 elections

Supporters of the ruling conservative VMRO-DPMNE wave party flags celebrating the double victory in parliamentary and presidential elections, in downtown Skopje, Macedonia, early Monday, April 28, 2014. Macedonia's incumbent prime minister claimed a landslide victory late Sunday in parliamentary an

The Associated Press

Supporters of the ruling conservative VMRO-DPMNE wave party flags celebrating the double victory in parliamentary and presidential elections, in downtown Skopje, Macedonia, early Monday, April 28, 2014. Macedonia's incumbent prime minister claimed a landslide victory late Sunday in parliamentary and presidential elections, but the center-left opposition denounced what it called distorting interference in the democratic process by the ruling party and said it won't recognize the results. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski)

Supporters of the ruling conservative VMRO-DPMNE wave party flags celebrating the double victory in parliamentary and presidential elections, in downtown Skopje, Macedonia, early Monday, April 28, 2014. Macedonia's incumbent prime minister claimed a landslide victory late Sunday in parliamentary and presidential elections, but the center-left opposition denounced what it called distorting interference in the democratic process by the ruling party and said it won't recognize the results. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) (The Associated Press)

KONSTANTIN TESTORIDES Associated Press

SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's ruling center-right party has won its fourth consecutive election victory in Macedonia but looks likely to fall just short of an outright majority.

The opposition Social Democrats refused to recognize the result Monday, alleging voter intimidation by the government, but international monitors described the vote as generally well run.

With 99.9 percent of the vote counted Monday, the conservative VMRO-DPMNE had won 42 percent and 61 seats — one short of a majority in the 123-member parliament. The Social Democrat-led opposition alliance got 24.9 percent and 34 seats, according to the State Election Commission. Turnout was 64 percent.

In a separate vote Sunday, conservative President Gjorge Ivanov won a second five-year term in a runoff for the largely ceremonial post.

The opposition has accused Gruevski of state interference in campaigning — including alleged threats made to civil servants to back the government — and said it would not recognize the results of either poll.

An international observer mission said it had received "continued to be credible allegations" of voter intimidation but said the vote went well overall.

"The presidential and parliamentary elections were efficiently administered. The citizens were offered a clear choice in this election," said Christine Muttonen of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. She expressed "regret" that the Social Democrats had refused to recognize the result.

VMRO rejected the claims of voter intimidation and its supporters celebrated in the streets of the capital Skopje early Monday, waving red party flags.

"Macedonia had peaceful, fair and free elections. Macedonia is the biggest winner. We can be proud," Gruevski told supporters.

He had called the election a year early, gambling on the success of his economic stimulus program which has helped landlocked Macedonia's economy recover from stagnation to grow by 2.5 percent last year. But unemployment remains high at 28.7 percent.